What I like about "Our Tennis Forum"

[barrystar]

In short, the absence of thin skins.  Many of the same old prejudices and arguments and insults flow around, but nobody runs to teacher for resolution/vindication.  Instead, people stick up for themselves or disengage from head-banging when they've worked out where their boundaries are and have had enough .  Although this is overwhelmingly a pro-Federer forum, and some pretty harsh anti-Nadal views are expressed, it's not all one-way traffic.  I miss a few of the more robust pro-Nadal and pro-Djoko posters from the 'old place', but on balance I prefer the fact that when someone does drop a hand grenade people are more robust about it.

It reminds me of my sister's approach to bringing up children - so long as things don't get seriously out of hand you need the confidence to let them regulate themselves, and they'll settle down much better in the medium to long-term.  Set yourself up as a 'judge' and appeals to you will never end during which time the 'appellants' leave their relationships between each other in limbo as if these relationships are something they can't take responsibility for themselves.  

I think (hope) that we've managed that.

[Tenez]

Thanks Barry (and of course thanks to all for making it that way). I think one of the best things about it is that there are not actually that many "hand grenades" as in the other forums I visited. We can go months disagreeing without insults. We have a couple (if that) of "spicy-tongued" members but as you said we are thick skinned enough to let it go. Though I think this is about maturity more than thick skinned.

We know it's just a tennis forum after all.

[luvsports!]

Apart from Jahu, who uses this place to hit on people 

[N2D2L]

You can't deny this forum is entertaining as well, forums are much more fun when people with different beliefs aren't scared of expressing it.

I miss a few of the more robust pro-Nadal and pro-Djoko posters from the 'old place'

Yeah, I miss Socal too!

[Jahu]

Apart from Jahu, who uses this place to hit on people 

Where is this coming from? Stop spreading erotic fake news 

[Daniel]

In the other place, criticizing fist pumper 2000 is seen as a crime punishable by instant bans - and any discussion that certain people want closing down is closed down.

These same people - surprise surprise - also tend to hold pathetic leftist views.  Oh so tolerant... as long as you agree with them.

[legendkillar]

A nice post barry.

I came here because I was fed up with threads clogging up with bans and over-sensitivity. There's an unwritten democracy here in which people know their tolerances and in some instances if compromises in opinion can't be reached, it's mostly left alone. Posters still carry a degree of emotive connection with players and that's always to be expected, but I like that debates do have lines drawn and we can debate. Yes it gets tense at times, but spice is the variety of life as they say.

Importantly grudges aren't held and that's always a nice thing. I still miss certain posters lags/Lydian mostly, but when will Murdoch bloody re-appear?!

[Slippy]

A lot of tennis forums seem to actively discourage debate/disagreement. You can see that with v2. They became so keen not to risk anyone being offended, that only non-contentious stuff was allowed. That then drives away those posters who are keen to generate debate - who also tend to be the posters who actively participate in the forum. Over time, the more passive members also stop posting, as they realise there isn’t much new thought provoking content being posted. 

I may not agree with much of what is said on here but I think it’s great that there is so much effort put into having new articles and points to debate. Wish I had a bit more free time to participate!

[summerblues]

Apart from Jahu, who uses this place to hit on people 

Jahu is great.  Straight shooter, good sense of humor, humble.

[summerblues]

As others said, the big advantage compared to 606v2 is that you do not have people running around trying to eliminate "inappropriate" thoughts and topics.

[Tenez]

As much as I appreciate the cool demeanour of OTF, It's the fact we can discuss everything which woudl be taboo elsewhere. That is the very reason we created OTF. And I also think the posters knowledge is beyond others in most cases, esecially as some question and prove wrong all the meaningless dogma or "truth) sold by pundits about the game.

Sure we could do with more or more attendence: Prostaff, nameless and SirFred.

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